Cultivator



B. l. HUGHES, III., J. A. DICKEY, AND E. C. CATTS.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5, |920.

1,431,806. Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

' e sIIEEIsHsIIEEI I. ls-1@ II ,l l N B. |l HUGHES, 1R., 1. A. DICKEY, AND E. C. CATTS. CULTVATOR- APPLICATION FILED APR. 5,'1920. 1,806, Patelltd 00137 10,\1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APH. s. 1920.

Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

e SHEETS-SHEET a.

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CULTIVATOR. APPLIcATloN FILED APRi s, 1920.

di; me/Mm 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

j d! jai Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

ljfzz @mi/immo B. I. HUGHES, IR., I. A. DICKEY, AND E. C. CATTS. cuLTlvAToR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, |920- 1,431,806 Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5. v

B. I. HUGHES, 1n.,1. A. DICKEY, AND E. C. CATTS. CULTIVATOR.

APP1LICATI0N FILED APR. 5, |920. I l 1,431,806. Patented 001;. 10,1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Z5-3], zz-Zfgdmmm gig; Wbb/woo Ei a 1 Patented @et l0, 1922.

hiiidrt vunirsi) 'STATES Parmi* Y ermee.

BnNzrAivrrN I. HUGHES, JR., JONATHAN AINSLEY DICKEY, AND ERWIN C. CATTS, OF

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNORS TO LANHAM COTTON CULTIVATOR CO., OF. AT-

LA N'TA, GEORGIA.

CULTIVATOR.

Application led Avril 5, 1920. Serial No. 371,352.

To all 'who/m, it may cof/1.06m.' T Be it -known that we, BENJAMIN I.

"HUGHES, Jr. JONATHAN A.- Droxnr, and

This invention relates to cultivators and' is more especially designed for use inthe choppingand cultivation of cotton although it is to be understood that it is also useful in the cultivation of other plants, such as Ybeets and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine .of this characterwhich,

VWitlilittlel eii'ort can be caused to maintain the chopping and cultivating elements in proper relation to the row being acted on,

Y that, within the scope of what is claimed,`

thus rendering themachine eificient in oper- -ation when used in connection with either a straightrow or,"` a row that ,is irregular. Another object isl to provide combined steering wheels fand barring oi disks which are underthe constant control of the operator and which can also be for 'regulating the depth bythe chopping device.

still further object is to provide means Vwhereby the barring off and chopping elementscan be supportedl in elevated positionsfthereby to permit the machine to be drawn from place to place without allowing said elements to come into contact with the ground.

utilized as gauges of the cut made A still lfurther'object is to'providesteering and `barring ofi mechanism which is compact, durable, and-formed of few parts. A still further object is to provide improved means for `operating the chopping element, said means utilizing a leverage Vwhich gradually increases from the beginning of each strokeof the chopping' element and exerts fits greatest force las 'the chopping element` enters and passes through the view, whichwill appear as.' the description proceeds', the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in Athefdetails* of construction hereinafterk described and claimed, it being understood changes in the precise embodiment of the 7-7, Figure 5.

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine, the near-wheel being removed and` the axle shown in section. Figure 2 is a broken away.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal Vsecplan view, parts being tion on line 3-3, Figure 2, the drive shaft being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, the draft beam being shown in section.

Figureis a front elevation of the barring ofi' and parts cooperating therewith, portions being broken away.

` Figure 6. is a rear elevation of the chopping blade and the parts cooperating therewith.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on line Figure 8 is a section through one of the handles and showing the support for the cut controlling lever, said lever being shown in section.

Figure 9 ure 2.

Figure l0 is a section on line lO-lO,`Figure 2.

Figure 1l is a detail view showing a portion of a slightly modified structure.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference. l designates the supporting wheels of the machine carrying an axle 2, said wheels being adjustable longitudinally the axle to vary the distance between the wheels. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the wheels against longitudinal movement `along the axle. mounted side castings 3 connected by an upper yoke t and by a lower yoke 5, the upper yoke constituting a support for a draft beam G. Angular arms 7.are extended forwardly from the sides of the yoke 4 and is a section on line 9-y9, Figgauge disks or wheels and the along On the axle are are connected by coiled springs 8 to upstandthe front end of a link 13 the rear end of which is likewise preferably provided with a yoke, as shown at 14. The `two links 1,3 are disposed at the respective -sides of the machine and are directly opposite each other, it being obvious that they are capable ot lateral swinging about their pivotal connections with the ears 11 and that they are also capable of swinging upwardly and downwardly about the axis of rotation of the sleeves 10.

The yokes 14 are pivotally connected Lto ears. 15 which are fo uned on or secureduto the sides of a traine 1 Vfrom which upwardly and rearwardly inclined handlesV 17 extend, these handles being provided with suitable braces 18. The trarne vis provided with spaced cross strips 19 forming the front portion thereof, the inner ends of thesestrips being secured to opposite side portionsoi a' guide yoke 2O upstanding at 'the center of the lront portion of said trarne and `having its side arms parallel. `ln this yoke is mounted a slide 21 having upper and lowerfguide ears at each sidethereo?, as shown aft 22,-:tor engaging the side arms the yoke 2O.' Ein tending rearwardly from this slide `is a bearing 23 and another bearing 24 extends. toi'- wardly from the slide, the bearing 23f'being joined tothe slide by forwardly,diverging arms 25. A chopper shaft 26 isjournaled the bearings-23 and 24 andis also joui'- naled in a bearing 27 carried by the .yoke '5 hereiiibetorereferred to, `there being Vuniversal joints 28 in the shaft 26 in line with the front and rear pivots respectively 'of the Vside links 13. This will be apparent by referring particularly to Figurev 2 .of the drawings. j j

Secured vto the shaft 26 betweenthe slide 21 and the bearing 23 is` a collar 29. This collar has outstanding ears 30 carrying a vpivotpin 31.

The references cited against this application have been considered .caie'liiilly. The machine covered by this application is the vresult of numerous steps and a gradual development and it has been found that the use votthe disks 47 mounted and operated in the particular manner disclosed, is one of the Amost essential features ot the machine inasmuch Vas when the machine is drawn forward over fields itis not necessary for the user to bother with Vthe handles 17. Simply by grasping the handle 52 the disks can be turned rso as to guide the machine along kthe row,` these disks not only serving properly to support a portion ol the weight of 'the machine by reason ot' their flanges 48 `but also serving tojba-r oit the row being chopped. The references do not appear to show or suggest such an arrangement. Gest-he, for

` vXample, appears to show a ground wheel and a` furrow `wheel one ot' which `can be turned by the rider. Weatherly showstwo casters which are not capable of barring off the row or of 'steering the machine. It is thought that neither of these references con- 'and is slidably mounted within a guide ear 33 carried by the upper portion ot the slide 2,1. A Acoiled springV 34 is mounted on this rod and` bears downwardly'against the ears BO and upwardlyagainst the ear 33, thus `to hold the ear-s 30 normally depressed in either of ytwo positions. By referring to Figure 6 it, will be. noted that the ear 33 is in vertical alignment with ,the shaft 26 and that after the pivot lpasses the 'dead center in either thrust- `against. the ears 3() :untill the shaft y26 .isvrotated either to` the yposition shown in Figui-e 6- orto the reverse position with the ears 3() extending upwardly toward the other side of the yoke 2O.` y l Secured to the rear end oft the shaft 26 is a collar 35 having a stem 36. extending radially therefrom in a downward directionand dianietricallyI opposite the ears 30; This stein direction, the spring 34 by expanding will j 36 is slidably engaged by a tubularexten# sion 37. to the lower end ,of which is attached a two edged chopping hoe-38, it being understood that the extension BZcan be. adjusted along the stein` 36 soas to position the blade or hoe 38- at any desired distance from the sliat`t26. i

vThe slide y21, undernnormal conditions, is supported by the lowerfportion'oftheyoke 20. but, if desired, the Islide Scan be raised upon the yokebynieans of an angular lifting lever 39., pivotally connected, as at 40 to one arm ot the yokei20while theangle portion ot the;leverfispconnected by link 4 1 to the slide 21. Thus it will be seen thatby swinging the lever 39 laterally the link 41 will be `elevated-and Aits point of connection with the lever willbe zmoved past ther dead center .so that the v slide 21 will thusbe .raised and held, as when it is desired to litt the shaft 26 jand the parts lcooperating therewith.` 1 j j, llxtending forwardly Jfrom the slide 21 are wings ,42.eachot1 which has superposed bearing earsextending forwardly therefrom asshown at 43, said earsbeing spaced apart. .lournaled within each pair of bearing ears 43 is a spindle `44having a collar 45 adjustably .secured ,thereto andlocated between the ears 43. thus to hold the spindle against longitudinal movement without, however,

i*indicatedat`46. and provided with ,a suitable-bearing 4stud engaginga concayo-convex `s arino' stri 3s 57 attached tothe frame l rs disk 47 on the inner or convex surface of whichis arranged a circular flange 4Scencentri'c with the disk and usually `spaced from the periphery thereof for a distance of about two inches. rlhis flange 48 can either be formed integral with or can be attached to the disk in any suitable manner. The two disks 47 are oppositely disposed, as shown particularly in Figure 5 and are adapted to be moved with the spindles 44 when they are rotated.

Secured to the upper portion of each of the spindles 44 is an arm 49, these-arms being parallel and being connected by a` cross strip 50 pivotally attached to them. Thus it will be seen that the two spindles will rotate in unison. One of the spindles 44 extends upwardly above its arm and has `a `rearwardly extending arm 51 secured to it. To this arm is attachedan elongated lever 52 which extends upwardlyand rearwardly between the handles 17. Thusv it will be seen that whenthe machine is moving forward the operator by swin `ng the lever 52 to the right or to the le t can cause the spindles 44 to rotate together, thus to turn the wheels or disks 47 so that `they will guide the rear portion of the machine or, in other words, will shift the frame 16 and theparts carried thereby laterally in either direction relative to the aXle 2 so as to `follow any irregularities in the row. of plants being acted on. i

A bail 53 is hung from supporting loops 54 attached to the back portion of the frame 16 and has its free ends inturned, as indicated at 55to form bearings for disks 56 which constitute fenders, these diskstraveling along the ground close tofand back of the chopping hoe 38.

Extending over the frame 16 are some by means of hook bolts 58, as shown in Figure 9. @ther spring strips 59 are extended under the frame 16 and attached thereto by hooks bolts 60 as shown in Figure lO. These strips 57 and 59 `have their back end portions turned downwardly and to the lower ends thereof are secured cultivating plows 4or points 61 for loosening the soil betweenthe rows while the machine is traveling forwardly ast-ride the row being acted on. The fenders 56 are extended between these plows 61 and the row being acted-on.

Secured to the ,axle v2 is a drive gear 62 `constantly in mesh-with another smaller gear 63 which is loosely mounted on a counter shaft 64 journaled in the upperportions of the castings 8. A clutch member 65 `is formed with or secured to the gear 63 and another clutch member-66 is feathered on the counter'shaft 64 and is adapted tore-v ceive pressure from a spring 67 mounted on the counter shaft and bearing at one'. end against a collar 68 secured to said counter shaft. An actuating lever 69 is fulcrumed at its forward end on a rod 70 extending laterally and downwardly from the beam 6 and secured to this lever is a dependin fork 71 which loosely engages the slidable clutch member 66. The lever 69 is supported by a tongue 7 2 extending laterally from the beam 6 and provided with a depression 73 in which the lever 69 is adapted to rest while the clutches are out of engagement with each other. When the lever 69 is disengaged from hthe depression 73, however, the spring 67 will automatically shift the clutch member 66 into engagement with the clutch member65, thus to couple the gear 63 to the counter shaft 64 so that said counter :shaft will be driven through the gears 62 and 63 from the rotating axle 2.

Secured to the counter shaft 64 is a beveled gear 74 which meshes with another beveled gear 75 secured to one end of a longitudinally extending shaft 7 6 `journaled within a bearing 77 carried by one of the side castings To the forward end of this shaft 76 is secured a disk 78 having a wrist pin 79 on which is mounted a pitman` 80. This pitman, in turn, is pivotally connected to a crank arm 81, secured to the front end ofthe shaft 26 and the wrist pin79 is so disposed relative tothe crank arm. 81 that, during each complete rotation of the disk 78, the crank arm 81 will be swung upwardly-and downwardly through approximately 900. As the wrist pin 79 begins to ascend from its lowermost point it pulls through the pitman 80 on the crank arm 81, the leverage gradually increasing until the.crank arm has `moved one-half of its distance at which time the leverage Ibegins to decrease until the wrist pin 79 reaches its uppermost position. As the wrist pin begins to descend the move ment of the crank arm 81 is reversed the leverage gradually increasing until said crank arm has completed one-half of its movement after which the leverage begins to decrease. .1n this connection it might be stated that the chopping hoe 3S is so mounted or connected to the shaft 26 that saidhoe comes against the row of plants and chops through them at the time that the crank arm 81 is subjected to the lgreatest leverage. Consequently the machine is maintained at the highest efficiency because the greatest power `is eX erted at the time when most needed during the chopping operation. y It is to be understood that when the lever 69 is engaged in the recess 73 and its supporting tongue 72 so that thetwo clutch members 65 and 66 are disengaged, the machine can move forwardly without operating the counter shaft 64 and the parts driven thereby. Furthermore, hy lifting the slide 21 by means of the lever 39 the rear portion of shaft 26 will be elevated, thus raising the chopping hoe 38 .seme distance from the throw the clutch member 66 into engage- .said fianges acting as gauges to limit the 'downward movement of the shaft 26 and of -the chopping blade carried thereby. Thus should the surface of the ground be uneven the disk 47 will always be kept at the same -depth because the flanges 48 will travel over the unevensurface `and maintain the chopping blade or hoe 38 in proper relation tothe surface ofthe soil. Lever 69 is disengaged from its support so that the spring 67 will ment with the clutch member 65, thereby 'coupling the gear 63 to the counter shaft 64. As the machine moves forward the aXle 2 will drive through the gears 62 and 63, the counter shaft 64 and the gears 74 and 75 to the shaft 76 and its disk 78. Thus motion will be `transmitted through the pitman 80 to the crank arm 81 and the shaft 26 will be rotated back and forth to produce a corresponding movement of the chopping hoe. As before explained.thechoppinghoe will start gradually and will reach its maximum speed and force as it passes under the shaft 26 at which time it is chopping through the plants in the path thereof. The rear portion of the shaft 26 can be maintained above the row simply by manipulating the lever 52. By means of this lever the disks 47 can be quickly turned to the right or to the left, thus shifting the entire frame 16 and the parts carried thereby so as to maintain them in proper position relative to the plants being acted on. This guiding of the rear portion of the frame is effected with but little exertion and affords a very accurate control of the machine, insuring accurate chopping ofthe plants. As a matter of fact the machine can be properly maintained in position relative to the row without taking'hold of the handles 17 and simply by manipulating the lever 52.

As the machine moves forward the disks 47 which converge forwardly, will bar off the row as well as act as gauges and as steering wheels.

The springs 8 exert a Vconstant pull upon the arms 9 thus to act as counter-balances for the rear portion of the machine which can therefore be raised easily relative to the beam 6.

The links 13 allow the rear portion of the machine to swing laterally freely under the guidance of the disks 47.

justing means may be of any construction desired. .For example a bell crank lever 82 can be mounted on one of the guides or arms of the yoke 20 and can be connected by a depending link 88 to the slide 21. A rod 84 can be extended from the. other arm of the bell crank lever to a small lever mounted adjacent one of the grips on the handles 17 and which lever has been .indicated at 85. By providing a. toothed segment 86 and a dog 87 for engaging the segment, the lever can be'locked in any position'desired and with the slide 21 of the shaft carried thereby at a predetermined elevation relative to the surface of theground.

Vhat is claimed :is:

1. The combination with supporting wheelsand a structure mounted for up and down and lateral swinging movement relative to the wheels, of a chopping element carried` by said structure, means for transmitting movement to said element from the supporting wheels, and disks in front of the path of the'choppingv element, and means operated by a person following the machine, for simultaneously shifting the disks to guide the chopping element and to bar off the row being chopped.

' 2. In `a `machine of the class described the combination with a structure having supporting wheels connected `to the front portion thereof7 of a chopping element carried by said structure and `driven by the wheels,

supporting disks connected to the structure in front of the path of the chopping element, and means operated by a person following the machine for simultaneously shifting thev disks .to guide the chopping` element kand to` bar off the row being chopped.

3.1n amachine of the class described the combination with a movably supported structure, of a chopping element7 means operated by the forward movement of said structure for actuating the chopping element, supporting disks connected to said structure in front of the path ofthe chopping element, and means operated by a person following the machine'for simultaneously shifting the disks to guide the chop- 'ping element and to bar off the row being chopped.

4. The combination with a movably supported structure,` achopping element, and means operated bythe movement of said structure for actuating the chopping element, of laterally spaced barring off dis rs connected to said structure in front of the path of the chopping element, and means operated by a person follow-ing the mastructure flexible laterally,

chine for simultaneously rotating the disks about individual upwardly extending axes to structure laterally, and to maindefiect the tain it in its course.

5. ln a machine of the Aclass described the combination with a movably supported a chopping element carried by one end portion of said structure, means operated by the forward movement of the machine for actuating the chopping element, kof barring oil disks connected to said end portion of the structure, means operated by a person following the ma-v chine for simultaneously rotating said disks about individual upwardly extending axes to bar off the row being chopped and to `mainta-infsaid end portion of the structure and chopping element along its proper course irrespective of;` theV position of `the remaining portion of the structure.

6. In a machine of the class described the `combination with a structure tlexible laterally, and wheels for supporting the front end of said structure, ofa chopping element carried bythe rear portion of the structure, means operatedby said wheels for actuating the chopping element, barring olf disks connected to and supporting the rear portion of'savid structure, and means operated by a personffollowing the machine for simultaneously rotating said disks to bar off 4the row being chopped and to maintain the rear portion of the structure in proper position relative to the row of plants and irrespective of the position of the front end of the structure.

7. The combination with a jointed struc` ture flexible laterally and supporting wheels connected to the front end portion of said structure, of a chopping element carried by the rear portion of said structure, means for operating the chopping element, barring olf disks connected to the rear portion of the structure and supporting the same, means under the control of a person following the machine for simultaneously rotating said disks about individual upwardly extending axes to bar olf the row being chopped and to tlex the structure laterally and maintain the chopping element and barring off disks in proper relation to the row of plants being acted on.

8. A machine of the class described including a movably mounted structure jointed for lateral flexing, a` wheeled support for one end portion of the structure, a chopping element carried by the other end portion of the structure, combined gauge and steering disks supporting said end portion and in advance of the chopping element, and means operated by a person following the machine for simultaneously rotating said disks to maintain them in proper relation to the row being chopped and to bar off said row.

9. A machine of the class described intuie mounted for lateral cluding a jointed structure mounted for to the front end of said structure, a chopping element" carried by the rear portion of the structure, combined gauge and barring off disks supporting the rear portion of the structure and in advance of the chopping element, and means under the control of a person following the machine for simultaneously rotating said disks, about upwardly extendingV axes to shift the rear portion of the vstructure laterally relative to the front portion, thereby to maintain the chopping element and disks in operative relation with a row ofy plants and to bar olf Said row.

10. The combination with a jointed strucflexing, and movable means for supporting the front end of the structure, of a chopping element carried by the rear portion of said structure,

the depth of the disks when projected into the soil, and means operated by a `person following the machine for simultaneously rotating'the disks to maintain them and the chopping element in operative relation to the row of plants acted on and for barring off the' row being chopped.

1l. In a machine of the class described the combination witha jointed structure mounted for lateral flexing, and wheels supporting the front end of said structure, of a chopping element carried by the rear portion of the structure, barring off disks, stems connected thereto and adjustably and revolubly connected to the rear portion of the structure, a connection between the stems for insuring simultaneously rotation thereof, and means operated by a person following the machine for actuating the stems to delect the rear portion of the structure relative to the front portion, thereby to maintain the disks and the chopping element in operative relation with the row of plants being acted on and to bar olf the row.

12. The combination with a jointed structure mounted to flex laterally, supporting means connected to the front end of the structure and a chopping element carried by the vrear port-ion of the structure, of upwardly ture mounted for lateral flexing, supportdisks and maintain said disks and the chop ping element in operative relation with the ronr of plants being acted on.

14.- The combination with a jointed structure mounted for lateral flexing, supporting means i'or the front end of the structure, and a iiexible shaft carried by said structure, ot' an upstanding guide upon the rear portion of the structure, a slide mounted thereon and constituting a bearing for the shaft, a chopping element carried by the sha-ft, combined barring o'f and steering disks, spindles eX tending therefrom and 3ournaled within the slide, means tor rotating the spindles toshift the disks and maintain said disks and the chopping element in operative relation with the row of plants being acted on and means for raising the slide upon the guide to elevate the chopping element and the disks relative to the'surface of the ground.

l5. In a machine ott the class described the combination with a Wheel supported structure and an upstanding guide carried thereby, of a` slide engaging the guide, a shaft journaled in the slide, a chopping element caried by the shaft, yieldable means carried by the slide for holding the chopping element normally at either of its tWo limits of movement, and means connected to the guide and slide for raising and lowering the guide relative to the structure.

16. ln a machine of the character de-V scribed the combination with a Wheel supported structure,a chopper shaft, a crank thereon, and a chopping element carried by said shaft, of a drive crank, means for transmitting motion thereto from the supporting wheels, and a pitman connection between, the cranks,` saidcranks and connection cooperating to impart a barok and forth rotation to the chopper shaft during each complete rotation ot the drive crank, the power exerted by the drive crank increasing gradually until the chopping element is midway of each of its strokes and then gradually diminishing to the end of each stroke.

ln testimony that We claim the `foregoing as our own, We have hereto aiiixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN l. HUGHES, Jr. JONATHAN AINSLEYr DICKEY. ERWIN C. CATTS.

Witnesses: y.

l/V. J. VARD, H. L. TEAR. 

